Can crusher



Jan. 12, 1960 F. H. BUNKE 2,920,554

CAN CRUSHER Filed Feb. 2o, 195e 2 sheets-'sheet 1 46 /2 /5 2%/ 4s /Mg 7157-2.

ATTORNEY F. H. BUNKE Jan. 12, 1960 CAN CRUSHER Filed Feb. 2o, i958 2 Sheets-$11961'l 2 lll/11111111117 llllnzlnlmrllllll ATTORNEYE 2,920,554 CAN cRUsHER Frederick H. Bunke, Jackson. Center, Ohio Application February 20, 1958, Serial No. 716,461

3 Claims. (Cl. 10G- 179)y The present invention relates to can crushers and particularly to hopper fed power operated can crushers of the type for progressively crushing cans introduced therein.

The primary object of the invention is toA provide a power driven can crusher having means for progressively crushing a can and simultaneously feeding the can toward a discharge outlet.

Another object of the invention is to provide a can crusher of the type described above having a hopper detachably associated therewith for feeding cans by gravity automatically into the crushing position between the crushing jaws. 4

A further object of the invention is to provide a can crushing apparatus of the type described above in which one of the crushing jaws is stationary and the other crushing jaw is carried on a pair `of vertically spaced moveable supports.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the 4following specication when considered in the light of the attached drawings in which: L

Figure 1 is a top plan view of theinvention with the hopper removed;

Figure 2. is a fragmentary side elevation of the invention shown partly broken away for convenience of illustration; j

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-section taken along the line 3--3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, with the feed hopper in position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal crosssection taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical crosssection taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical crosssection taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary front elevation of one of the crushing jaws.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral 10 indicates generally a can crushing apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention.

The can crushing apparatus 10 includes a generally rectangular base plate 11 having a pair of upstanding side rails 12, 13 integrally secured to opposite sides thereof. The base plate 11 terminates at 14 intermediate the opposite ends of the side rails 12, 13. A motor base 15 is secured to the base plate 11 adjacent one end thereof and has an electric motor 16 adjustably secured thereto by means of bolts 17.

An upstanding flat jaw plate 18 extends between the side rails 12, 13 and is secured thereto. The jaw plate 18 has its lower edge secured at 14 to the base plate 11. An angle iron brace 19 is positioned intermediate the 'United States Patent C) Figures 1, 2 and 3.

tation of the shaft 27.

opposite side edges of the jaw plate 18 and extends vertically along the jaw plate 18 on the side thereof adjacent the motor 16. The jaw plate 18 on the side thereof opposite the angle iron brace 19 is provided with a plurality of jaw teeth 20, as can be best seen in Figures 2, 6 and 7.

A pair of spaced parallel horizontal bars 21, 22 are lixedly secured to the opposite side edges of the upper end of the jaw plate 18 in overlying relation with respect to the base plate 11.

A generally U-shaped bracket 23 is arranged in horizontal relation and secured to the jaw plate 18 at the Side thereof overlying the side rail 13, as best seen in The U-shaped bracket 23 has a pair of spaced 'parallel horizontally extending arms 24, 25 respectively and a bite portion 26 extending therebetween.

A jack shaft 27 is journalled in the arms 24, 25 and has a belt pulley 28 and sprocket 29 fixed thereto for rotation therewith. A belt pulley -30 is mounted on the motor 16 and a V-belt 31 is trained over the pulleys 28 and 30 so that the shaft 27 is driven on rotation of the motor 16.-

A drive shaft 32 is journalled in the bar 21, 22 and is secured therein by means of collars 33, 34 engaging respectively the adjacent faces `of the bars 21, 22. A relatively large sprocket 35 is mounted on the shaft 32 and a sprocket drive chain 36 is trained over the sprocket 35 and the sprocket 29 so that the shaft 32 is driven on ro- An eccentric 37 is fixed to the shaft 32 adjacent the bar 21v and spaced outwardly therefrom and a second eccentric 38 is' xed to the shaft 32 adjacent the bar 22 and spaced outwardly therefrom. A pair of spaced parallel links 39, 40 `extend`horizontally and have one end thereof mounted respectively on theeccentrics 37, 38 as can be best seen in Figures 1 and 6.

A crank 41 is secured to the shaft 32 adjacent the eccentric 37 and a second crank 42 is secured to the opposite ends thereof. A horizontal link 43 is pivotally connected at one end to the crank 41 and a second horizontal link 44 is pivotally connected at one end to the crank 42. A lever 45 has its upper end pivotally connected at 46 to the end of the horizontal link 43 opposite the crank 41. A lever 47 has its upper end pivotally connected at 48 to the end of the horizontal link 44 opposite the crank 42. The lower end of the lever 45 is pivotally connected at v 49 to the rail 12 and the lower end of the lever 47 is pivotally connected at 50 to the rail 13.

A moveable jaw 51 of generally rectangular form has an angularly offset lower extension 52 and is secured to a transverse shaft 53 adjacent the offset extension 52. The shaft 53 has its opposite ends journalled respectively in the levers 45, 47 and is locked theretoby collars 54. A shaft 55 is fixed to the upper end of the moveable jaw 51 in parallel relation to the shaft 53. The opposite ends of the shaft 55 are journalled in the ends of the links 39,40 opposite the eccentric 37, 38 respectively. Collars 56 secure the shaft 55 to the links 39, 40. The moveable jaw 51 has a plurality of jaw teeth 20 formed on the face thereof adjacent the jaw 18.

A generally rectangular hopper 57 is provided with a pair of spaced apart parallel side walls 58, 59 integrally joined by opposite end walls 60, 61. A clip 62 secured to the side wall 58 mounts the hopper 57 to the upper end of the jaw plate 18, as shown in Figure 2. A pair of overlapping cover panels 63, 64 are hingedly secured at 65, 66 respectively to the upper ends of the side walls 53, 59. Resilient springs 67, 68 are connected to the cover panel 63, 64 to normally bias the cover panel 63, 64 into closed position, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

In the use and operation of the invention tin cans are forced into the hopper 57 through the cover panel 63, 64

and are gravity-fed downwardly between the stationary jaw plate 18 and the moveable jaw 51. The motor 16 is operated and through the jack shaft 27 drives the shaft 32, eccentrics 37, 38 andcranks 41, 42 f The `c ranksjll, 42 through horizontalu links 43, 44Hoscillate the levers"fl'5, -47 on theirijournals 49, v50` and throughthe 'shaft V53 journalledtherein oscillates thelowerend ot the moveable vjaw 51 toward the vjaw plateel.l The eccentricsl 38 move thelinks 39,40 horizontally andoscillateithc upperendiof thernoveable'jaw 51 by means of the shaft 55l toward thejaw plate 18.J u

lThe oscillating movement of the moveable ljaw 51 provides a combined compressing, chewing action on the cans fedtherebetween so that on eachv stroke of the moveable'jawSll the can is progressively crushed until it finally falls from'between the jaws 13, 51`in vflattened condition.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, itsho'uld'be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations'may be resorted to withoutdeparting 4from the scope of the appended claims.

'What is claimed is:

1. Acan `n'usher comprising a generally horizontal base plate, a pair of upstanding elongated side rails Secured to opposite sides of said base plate, an upright generally ilat Stationary jaw Ihaving 'its lower end engagingsaid basenplate between said' 4side rails and rigidly secured to' said'base plate and said side rails intermediate the opposite ends of'saidbase plate, a -Inotor secured to Said'bas'e plate, a pair of spaced apart parallel bars rigidly Secured to the upper en d portions'of said jaw andl extending longitudinally therefrom in aplane overlying said motor, ahorizontal'shaft journalledin said bars parallel to said'fjaw, an eccentric secured to saidishaft adjacent the'opp`osite" ends th ereof,"a crank Asecured to each end of isaidshafg'drive means connecting said shaft to said rlltlitor,- LAa `upstandirlg levers having their' lower ends pivotally secured to said side rails adjacentl to but spaced from the lower end of said jaw, a horizontal link pivotally connected at one end to each of the upper ends of said levers, said links having their opposite ends journalled on said cranks, a second pair of horizontal links having one end journalled on said eccentrics, an upright generally fiat jaw positioned between said levers, means pivotally securing said second named jaw to said levers ata point thereon adjacent toA but spaced above the pivotal connection of said levers with said side rails, and means pivotallyconnecting the upper end of said second named jaw to Said'second pair'of'links 'whereby on rotation of saids'haft the lower end-portion of said second named jaw is moved slightly towards said stationary jaw while the upper end portion of saidsecond named jaw is moved a considerably greater distance toward said stationary jaw.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a generally rectangular hopper'is xedly secured to said stationary jawv in overlying relation with respect to the space between Said jaws.

3! A device 'as' claimed in claim 1 wherein said second named jaw is'p'rovided with an offset lower end portion Eand thef meansmounting said second named'jaw adja- 

